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Alexandria's civic calendar snaps back to full speed this week after spring break and Easter, with consequential budget deadlines, a heavy Planning Commission docket, a Duke Street safety overhaul hearing, and the first public look at a renegotiated agreement governing police in schools all arriving in quick succession.
The budget's most consequential week begins today. Monday, April 6 is the deadline for City Council to notify staff of any planned changes to the real estate tax rate — the most politically charged decision in the FY 2027 budget process. The proposed budget holds the rate flat at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, but rising assessments mean the average Alexandria homeowner would pay approximately $504 more per year even without an increase. Council's add-delete deadline follows Thursday, April 9, when members must finalize the list of programs and line items they want to add or cut from City Manager James Parajon's proposed $977 million budget. The questions Council raised across six work sessions — on rental assistance, DASH expansion, affordable housing bonding authority, mental health staffing and the ACPS collective bargaining gap — all come to a head this week.
Tuesday brings a public hearing on Duke Street. The city will hold an open forum from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services headquarters at 2900 Business Center Drive on proposed safety improvements to Duke Street between West Taylor Run Parkway and Dove Street. City staff will present changes designed to enhance safety, ease congestion and expand access for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers along one of the city's busiest corridors. The hearing is in-person only; residents who cannot attend may submit written comments through April 17 to project manager Anup Gautam at anup.gautam@alexandriava.gov. Also Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., a separate community meeting covers proposed storm sewer improvements at West Reed Avenue and Dale Street.
Ryan Belmore
Tuesday evening's Planning Commission public hearing at Del Pepper, Room 1305, beginning at 7 p.m. is one of the fuller dockets of the year. The headline items are two significant development proposals. At 4701 and 4801 Eisenhower Avenue, Tri Pointe Homes is seeking approval for Eisenhower Pointe Phase 2 — a mix of townhomes and multi-unit residential buildings with a requested parking reduction on a site zoned for office commercial. At 300 N. Lee St. and 333 N. Fairfax St. in Old Town, EYA Development is seeking approval to construct townhomes with requests for a cluster development designation and an affordable housing density bonus. The commission will also take up a broad zoning text amendment that would allow live entertainment and outdoor fitness studios as permitted uses in certain zones, amend restaurant use limitations and add day care as a permitted use. Also on the docket: an extension request for Community Lodgings' previously approved multiunit residential project at 3908 and 3910 Elbert Ave., a right-of-way vacation at Kent Place and Russell Road, new street name requests near South Van Dorn Street and an advisory recommendation to the City Manager on the FY 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Program. The commission's action will be followed by a City Council public hearing April 18.
Wednesday's Board of Architectural Review meets at 7 p.m. at 901 Wythe St. — note the location correction from the printed docket, which incorrectly lists Del Pepper. The agenda includes several notable Old Town properties. Most significant: a paired request for complete demolition and new construction at 1126 Prince St. by Prince Corner Real Estate LLC. Also on new business: alterations, an addition and partial demolition at 623 S. Royal St.; new construction at 220 and 224 S. Peyton St.; alterations and an addition at 732 N. Washington St.; and a concept review for three adjacent parcels at 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick St. in the Parker Gray historic district.
Thursday is the week's most layered night. The ACPS School Board meets at 6 p.m. at 1340 Braddock Place — its first regular meeting since the board accepted Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt's resignation on March 26. The April 9 docket had not been posted at press time. The board is expected to post the long-awaited draft Memorandum of Understanding governing School Resource Officers when the agenda goes live, giving the community roughly a week to review the document before a public hearing April 16 at 5 p.m. The MOU, which governs SRO conduct at Alexandria City High School and the city's middle schools, has been under renegotiation for nearly a year. The board is expected to vote on final approval at its April 23 meeting. Also Thursday: the Housing Affordability Advisory Committee meets at 7 p.m. and the Community Criminal Justice Board meets at 4 p.m.
Ryan Belmore
Friday, April 10 is the last day to request a mail ballot for the April 21 special election to fill the City Council seat vacated by former council member R. Kirk McPike, who won a House of Delegates race in February.
Ryan Belmore
Tuesday marks Teal-Out Day for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, with the city's Department of Community and Human Services calling on residents to wear teal in recognition of the Day of Action.
Saturday offers one of the more distinctive events of the spring — an Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive at 10 a.m., where residents can test drive EVs from local dealerships, ride e-bikes and scooters and talk to EV owners about their experiences. Also Saturday morning: a Holmes Run stream cleanup at 9 a.m.
This week's full calendar
Monday, April 6
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- All day — ACPS Teacher Work Day; no students
- 10 a.m. — Month of the Young Child kickoff event with Mayor Gaskins, Kids' First Years and DASH
- 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- Deadline: City Council must notify staff of any planned tax rate changes for FY 2027
Tuesday, April 7
- All day — Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Teal-Out Day
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 7:30 a.m. — ACPS Operational Excellence Committee, virtual
- 4:30 p.m. — AlexRenew Governance Committee preparation meeting, 1800 Limerick St.
- 5 p.m. — Duke Street and West Taylor Run Intersection Improvement Project public hearing, 2900 Business Center Drive (in-person only; written comments accepted through April 17)
- 6 p.m. — Alexandria Police Department evening hiring event
- 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- 6:30 p.m. — ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame Advisory Committee meeting, ACHS Media Center
- 6:30 p.m. — West Reed Avenue and Dale Street storm sewer improvements community meeting
- 7 p.m. — Arts Commission Executive Committee meeting
- 7 p.m. — Planning Commission public hearing, Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive, Room 1305 (also via Zoom; registration required)
- 7:30 p.m. — Public Records Advisory Commission, in-person
Wednesday, April 8
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 8 a.m. — Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission, in-person
- 5:30 p.m. — Alexandria Transit Company Board of Directors meeting
- 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- 6 p.m. — Free tax preparation for eligible Alexandria residents
- 6:30 p.m. — Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission meeting
- 7 p.m. — Commission on Persons with Disabilities monthly meeting
- 7 p.m. — Board of Architectural Review public hearing, 901 Wythe St. (note: not Del Pepper)
Thursday, April 9
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 1 p.m. — Understanding ACEs: Building Resilient Communities training
- 3 p.m. — Commission on Aging Health Committee, virtual
- 4 p.m. — Community Criminal Justice Board
- 4:30 p.m. — Commission on Aging full meeting, virtual
- 5 p.m. — Historic Happy Hours, Vola's Dockside Grill
- 6 p.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- 6 p.m. — ACPS School Board meeting, 1340 Braddock Place (also on cable channel 71 and via Zoom)
- 7 p.m. — Housing Affordability Advisory Committee monthly meeting
- Deadline: City Council add-delete deadline for FY 2027 budget
- Expected: ACPS posts April 9 agenda including draft SRO Memorandum of Understanding
Friday, April 10
- 6 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 8 a.m. — Last day to request a mail ballot for the April 21 special Council election
- 6:30 p.m. — Grown-Up Field Trip: Archaeology Museum (Black History Month series)
Saturday, April 11
- 7 a.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- 8 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 9 a.m. — Free tax preparation for eligible Alexandria residents
- 9 a.m. — Historic Holmes Run stream cleanup
- 10 a.m. — Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive and Showcase
- 5:30 p.m. — Poisons Tour, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (adults recommended)
Sunday, April 12
- 7 a.m. — Minnie Howard Open
- 8 a.m. — Chinquapin Open
- 11 a.m. — Outlandish Apothecary specialty tour, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
See the full city calendar here and the ACPS calendar here.
Attending any of these meetings? Send us what you hear.
